A morning jog turns tragic; one woman killed, two others hospitalized in hit and run

A 40-year-old mother was killed, and two other women suffered major injuries in a hit and run collision while jogging along Myrtle Avenue shortly before 6 a.m. Thursday.

Eureka residents Jessica Hunt, 41, and Terri Vroman-Little, 50, suffered major injuries and were taken to St. Joseph Hospital. Hospital spokeswoman Leslie Broomall said both women were in stable condition Thursday afternoon.

The Humboldt County Coroner's Office has not released the name of the Bayside resident and mother of two young children who died at the scene.

Six Rivers Running Club President Gary Timek said he has been running with the three women for years.

"It really is horrific. The woman who was killed, she had a 7-year-old and a 4-year-old," Timek said. "That type of thing shouldn't happen."

Timek said he doubted the women could have done anything different.

"These were very experienced runners who have been running together for years," he said. "They went and ran the Boston Marathon together. I think this is just one of those freak accidents."

The three joggers were traveling northbound on the west shoulder of Myrtle Avenue, south of Ole Hanson Road, at about 5:50 a.m. when a 2005 Kia Spectra driven by an unknown suspect struck the women, according to a CHP release.

A dog belonging to one of the joggers was also killed, the release said.

Few details about the search for the driver, who fled the scene, were available Thursday. The Kia Spectra was located on California Street by Eureka Police Department officers later Thursday morning.

A call log on the hit and run indicates the CHP contacted the Hoopa Valley Tribal Police regarding the incident, and a sheriff's office press release states a CHP officer conducting a follow up investigation found the body of a woman in a residence on Little Moon Lane in Hoopa at about 10:30 a.m. Thursday.

Officials with the CHP and the sheriff's office said they could not comment on whether the Hoopa investigation was related to the hit and run.

"All I have so far is bits and pieces," said Humboldt County Assistant District Attorney Kelly Neel. "I suspect, over the next 24 hours, a lot more will be able to be shared."

Myrtle Avenue was closed for four hours following the incident, which remains under investigation.

Scott Pesch, the Humboldt State University track and cross-country coach, said Thursday was a somber day for the running community. Pesch said he knew the three women from his involvement with the Six Rivers Running Club. According to Pesch, Hunt is the director of the club's 34th Annual Humboldt Redwoods Marathon.

"You know, it's always in the back of your mind when you are out running that something like this could happen," he said. "I have been running since I was 9 years old, and I certainly have had my fair share of near misses. You just have to do the best you can to be safe."

Pesch said he advises all runners to take three precautions: Be aware of your surroundings, wear reflective gear and run against traffic.

"Drivers need to go the speed limit, slow down and be aware of bicyclists and pedestrians," Pesch said. "Both groups need to be aware and work together to keep each other safe."

An entry on the Six Rivers Running Club Facebook page indicates the three women and the dog were wearing reflective clothing when they were struck.